Armenia

Armenia Travel Guide

Armenia is a captivating destination, long acknowledged as a
cradle of civilisation with centuries of ancient history to
unravel. Armenia was one of the first countries to adopt
Christianity as its official state religion and many of the
country's surviving ancient monuments are Christian churches and
monasteries. Mount Ararat, in Turkey, was once within the borders
of Armenia before the area was divided between Turkey and the USSR,
and is believed to be the landing site of Noah's ark. Armenians
still consider the mountain to be a symbol of their land, and it
features on their national emblem today.

Present-day Armenia is a tiny landlocked country
sandwiched between the Black and Caspian Seas, occupying but a
fraction of the ancient Armenia. Its capital, Yerevan, is one of
the world's oldest cities, established years before the founding of
ancient Rome.

Armenia is mountainous and incredibly picturesque.
The countryside is riddled with small lakes, and also reveals one
of the world's biggest mountain lakes, Lake Sevan. The mountains
are home to health spas and treatment centres, and the Tavush
region is known for its healing mineral waters, with popular
resorts such as Ijevan and Dilijan.

The Kotayk region has some of Armenia's most
spectacular scenery. The resort of Tsakhkadzor ('canyon of
flowers') is most popular in winter, with excellent skiing.
Visitors to the Syunik region will find beautiful natural springs,
as well as the Tatev Monastery, Karahunj (the Stonehenge of
Armenia), and the Shaki Waterfall. To the north, the Lori region is
great for hiking, and hosts two UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the
monasteries of Sanahin and Haghpat, as well as the Odzun Cathedral.
East of Yerevan lies the spiritual centre of Armenia, the Holy See
of Echmiadzin, the most significant cathedral in the world's oldest
Christian nation.